2-3 shift flare confusion...

davew833 · #1 10-03-2005, 12:49 PM

OK...I've been searching the archives all weekend trying to figure out what to do about my tranny issues and I'm confused. It occasionally flares between the 2-3 shift, and sometimes doesn't find 3rd at all. It does not slip in gear once it finds it, though, and when I drop it into 3rd by moving the shifter, it's fine. I've seen several possible fixes here but I'm confused about which one to try. Do I:

a. Adjust the brake band (looser or tighter?)
b. disconnect the tranny resistor behind the battery
c. crush some other resistor somewhere (not sure at all about this one...)
d. get a new transmission.
e. none of the above

The fluid's just been changed with synthetic, and I've made the appropriate sacrifices and supplications to the 4EAT gods.

Thanks for any and all help-

bwb3 · #2 10-03-2005, 01:31 PM

Mine does the same thing. Look forward to an answer as long as it is not a new transmission.
Gene

Earthworm · #3 10-03-2005, 04:05 PM

Any fixes will be temporary. The likely one will be the band brake adjustment. The ultimate solution would be replacing the tranny and the cheapest way to do that would be to look for a 4.11 or 4.44 geared tranny/rear diff from another model Subaru.

svxcuseme · #4 10-03-2005, 04:51 PM

What about a bad Throttle position sensor? Does the symtom "can't find 3rd rule this out? Mine does the occasional 2-3 flare only on very light throttle. I ran through the trouble codes and sure enough I get a bad TPS and speed sensor.

oab_au · #5 10-03-2005, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by svxcuseme

What about a bad Throttle position sensor? Does the symtom "can't find 3rd rule this out? Mine does the occasional 2-3 flare only on very light throttle. I ran through the trouble codes and sure enough I get a bad TPS and speed sensor.

The TPS/speed sensor, would affect all the change points. The 2/3 flare is the brake band as I have just stated above. The fact that it does it only on a light throttle, is because the line pressure is varied with the throttle position, so when the change takes place the pressure is low and the slack band slips, if the pedal is down, the pressure is high and the slack band will grip.

The fix is to adjust the band, before it slips itself to destruction. The codes for the TPS/speed sensor, may disappear at the time.

Harvey.

svxcuseme · #6 10-05-2005, 08:30 AM

Sadly, I adjusted the Brake band last night to no avail.

Still getting the 2-3 flare under light load.

Going to look at electrical as the cause. (You say, "Electrical problems, on a Subaru! You must be joking!") I think I'll measure TPS output...try cleaning with contact cleaner, whatever that is, (Radio Shack), then possibly remove and replace. Finally maybe look at replacing the TCU, if I can get one cheap. someone suggested this fixed their problem (last resort).

I won't spend too much more time or money before swapping to manual, but I gotta try something right? I hope you find a solution davew833. Let me know what you come up with.

Marc

oab_au · #7 10-03-2005, 05:02 PM

The flare is caused by the brake band wearing, this is normal, and an adjuster is provided to bring the band clearance back to orignal settings. The adjustment is located on the left/top/front, of the transmission. The adjustment is made by unlocking the lock nut, and screwing the adjuster down till it is as tight as you can get it, with two fingers on a 3" spanner, then unscrew the adjuster out 3 full turns, to set the right clearence.

Don't do the 1/4 turn in/out to find the right setting. Do the full setup as I have discribed it. There are some good posts on doing the job, on the forum. This is not a temporary fix, it is a service adjustment that should be carried out every 100k, just like adjusting the hand brake, and a lot cheaper than replacing the box, $100/$200 should get it done.

All the best.

Harvey.

davew833 · #8 10-05-2005, 10:20 AM

I also did the brake band adjustment last night and at this time I am cautiously optimistic. I got no 2-3 flare during limited driving last night and this morning. (Knock on wood!) Shifts seem to be smoother and tighter although I am getting a slight 'braking' effect under hard acceleration (I may go back and loosen the band a bit).

svxcuseme · #9 10-05-2005, 11:16 AM

Fingers crossed !